וֹ (o)
o
him
Os3mQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1,277 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- Os3m
Word Overview
The Hebrew word vo is a third-person masculine singular object pronoun, translating to "him" or "his." It appears as a suffix attached to prepositions and verbs that do not already have an object. With over twelve hundred occurrences in the Old Testament, it is one of the most common grammatical markers in the Hebrew Bible, particularly frequent in Genesis and the books of Samuel.
This form allows the text to maintain flow without repeating nouns. When attached to a preposition like "to" or "from," it clearly indicates direction or source toward or away from a male person. In narrative sections, it helps track interactions between characters efficiently, ensuring the reader knows exactly who is receiving an action or speaking.
Its ubiquity highlights the importance of relational dynamics in biblical storytelling. By consistently marking the male object, the text clarifies agency and responsibility in legal, covenantal, and historical accounts. Translators render it simply as "him" or possessive forms like "his," depending on the surrounding syntax.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word vo is a simple grammatical marker meaning "him." It appears over twelve hundred times in the Old Testament as a suffix attached to verbs or prepositions. This tiny word helps the text flow smoothly by identifying who receives an action without repeating names. In stories like Genesis, it tracks relationships and interactions between characters with precision.
For your faith life, this frequent use highlights the importance of personal connection in Scripture. When God speaks to Abraham or judges Cain, the text uses this pronoun to show direct engagement. It reminds us that biblical history is not abstract but involves real people meeting a real God. The clarity of these references helps readers understand agency and responsibility in covenantal relationships.
Understanding such details can deepen your appreciation for the care taken in biblical writing. Each instance points to specific individuals and their roles in God's plan. This attention to relational dynamics invites you to see yourself as part of a larger narrative where every person matters to the Creator.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1,277 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to <the>/ him331×
- to/ him233×
- for <the>/ himself57×
- of/ him48×
- in <the>/ it47×
- for/ him40×
- for <the>/ him39×
- in/ it31×
- [belonged] to <the>/ him28×
- for/ himself26×
- <to> <the>/ him26×
- in/ him22×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ל֖/וֹ162×
- ל֔/וֹ124×
- לֽ/וֹ\׃97×
- ל/וֹ֙94×
- ל֑/וֹ88×
- ל֣/וֹ77×
- ל֥/וֹ76×
- ל֛/וֹ49×
- בּ֑/וֹ46×
- ל֗/וֹ43×
- בּֽ/וֹ\׃43×
- בּ֖/וֹ38×
Key Verses
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Genesis 3:9
Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
The pronoun identifies the man as the direct object of God's question, emphasizing personal accountability.
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Genesis 15:6
He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness.
It marks Abram as the recipient of righteousness, highlighting faith as a personal trust in Yahweh.
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Genesis 4:15
Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.
The suffix indicates Cain is both the subject of protection and the object of divine justice, showing God's complex care.
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Genesis 2:18
Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
It appears twice in this verse to define the relational need for a helper comparable to the man.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word vo mean?
Why does this word appear so frequently?
How is this different from other pronouns?
Every Occurrence (1,277 verses across 37 books)
Genesis 139 verses
God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their…
Genesis 1:12The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after…
Genesis 1:29God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree,…
Genesis 1:30To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there…
Genesis 2:3God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work of creation which he had done.
Genesis 2:18Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Genesis 2:19Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man…
Genesis 3:3but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it. You shall…
Genesis 3:9Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
Genesis 4:7If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you…
Genesis 4:15Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign…
Genesis 4:19Lamech took two wives: the name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the second one was Zillah.
Genesis 6:17I, even I, will bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the…
Genesis 7:15Pairs from all flesh with the breath of life in them went into the ship to Noah.
Genesis 9:24Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him.
Genesis 12:16He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female…
Genesis 12:20Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they escorted him away with his wife and all that he had.
Genesis 13:1Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South.
Genesis 13:11So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one another.
Genesis 14:20Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all.
Genesis 15:5Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He…
Genesis 15:6He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 15:10He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide…
Genesis 16:1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Genesis 16:3Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and…
Genesis 16:12He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will…
Genesis 18:18since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
Genesis 19:5They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we…
Genesis 20:3But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman…
Genesis 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have…
Genesis 20:14Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his…
Genesis 21:3Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
Genesis 21:5Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him.
Genesis 21:18Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”
Genesis 21:21He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother got a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.
Genesis 22:3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son.…
Genesis 22:8Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together.
Genesis 22:9They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound…
Genesis 22:12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not…
Genesis 23:5The children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,
Genesis 23:9that he may sell me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him…
Genesis 23:11“No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of…
Genesis 23:14Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,
Genesis 23:17So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all…
Genesis 23:20The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial…
Genesis 24:2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my…
Genesis 24:9The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
Genesis 24:35Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. Yahweh has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male…
Genesis 24:36Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him.
Genesis 24:47I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to…
Genesis 24:67Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was…
Genesis 25:2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
Genesis 25:5Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac,
Genesis 25:20Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban…
Genesis 25:21Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife…
Genesis 25:33Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob.
Genesis 26:8When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold,…
Genesis 26:14He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him.
Genesis 26:32The same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have…
Genesis 27:13His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son. Only obey my voice, and go get them for me.”
Genesis 27:25He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless you.” He brought it near to…
Genesis 27:27He came near, and kissed him. He smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, “Behold, the smell of my…
Genesis 27:32Isaac his father said to him, “Who are you?” He said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”
Genesis 27:37Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants. I have…
Genesis 27:45until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you…
Genesis 28:1Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
Genesis 28:6Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as…
Genesis 28:9So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s…
Genesis 28:12He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were…
Genesis 29:6He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
Genesis 29:13When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and…
Genesis 29:14Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.
Genesis 29:28Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
Genesis 29:34She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him…
Genesis 30:4She gave him Bilhah her servant as wife, and Jacob went in to her.
Genesis 30:20Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons.”…
Genesis 30:35That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and…
Genesis 30:37Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, and plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white…
Genesis 30:40Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the black in Laban’s flock. He…
Genesis 30:43The man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
Genesis 31:14Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
Genesis 31:15Aren’t we considered as foreigners by him? For he has sold us, and has also used up our money.
Genesis 31:20Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away.
Genesis 31:21So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.
Genesis 31:24God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either…
Genesis 31:47Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
Genesis 33:11Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He…
Genesis 33:17Jacob traveled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place…
Genesis 33:20He erected an altar there, and called it El Elohe Israel.
Genesis 34:8Hamor talked with them, saying, “The soul of my son, Shechem, longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife.
Genesis 34:14and said to them, “We can’t do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised; for that is a reproach to us.
Genesis 35:10God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named…
Genesis 35:11God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and…
Genesis 35:18As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
Genesis 35:26The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
Genesis 36:5Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 37:3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a tunic of…
Genesis 37:8His brothers asked him, “Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion over us?” They hated him all the…
Genesis 37:10He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, “What is this dream that you…
Genesis 37:11His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind.
Genesis 37:13Israel said to Joseph, “Aren’t your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” He said…
Genesis 37:14He said to him, “Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers, and well with the flock; and bring me word again.”…
Genesis 37:22Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he…
Genesis 37:24and they took him, and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it.
Genesis 37:27Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His…
Genesis 38:9Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the…
Genesis 38:14She took off the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate…
Genesis 38:18He said, “What pledge will I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” He…
Genesis 38:25When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man who owns these.” She also…
Genesis 39:4Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he…
Genesis 39:5From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house for…
Genesis 39:6He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate.…
Genesis 39:8But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has…
Genesis 40:9The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,
Genesis 40:12Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.
Genesis 41:12There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted…
Genesis 41:38Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Genesis 41:43He made him ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, “Bow the knee!” He set him over all the…
Genesis 41:45Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah. He gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife.…
Genesis 41:50To Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore…
Genesis 42:6Joseph was the governor over the land. It was he who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph’s brothers came, and…
Genesis 42:29They came to Jacob their father, to the land of Canaan, and told him all that had happened to them, saying,
Genesis 43:7They said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still…
Genesis 43:26When Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down…
Genesis 43:32They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the…
Genesis 44:5Isn’t this that from which my lord drinks, and by which he indeed divines? You have done evil in so doing.’”
Genesis 44:24When we came up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
Genesis 45:26They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” His heart fainted, for he…
Genesis 46:1Israel traveled with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac.
Genesis 46:20To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,…
Genesis 46:27The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into…
Genesis 47:18When that year was ended, they came to him the second year, and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord how our…
Genesis 47:29The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in…
Genesis 47:31Israel said, “Swear to me,” and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself on the bed’s head.
Genesis 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs.…
Genesis 49:32the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth.”
Genesis 50:1Joseph fell on his father’s face, wept on him, and kissed him.
Genesis 50:3Forty days were used for him, for that is how many days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for Israel for seventy…
Genesis 50:12His sons did to him just as he commanded them,